A lendwithcare.org gift voucher enables people in the UK to lend small amounts of money to entrepreneurs in developing countries. Photograph: Emilie Bailey

For many of us, the list of family and friends we need to buy presents for gets longer every Christmas. Every year, it's the same old struggle: how to find new and interesting presents for all the people in your life who already seem to have everything.

Often, we end up buying our loved ones gifts that they don't really want, certainly don't need, and which don't do anyone any good.

But this year you can give a present that really makes a difference – something that will bring happiness to many. A lendwithcare.org gift voucher, part of CARE International's lendwithcare.org programme, enables people in the UK to lend small amounts of money – £15 or more – to entrepreneurs in developing countries. It's a new and better way of getting money to poor people who really need it.

All of the money goes to the entrepreneur, so a small amount of money can go a long way – and with vouchers starting at just £15, it's a great Christmas gift for lots of people on your list.

The voucher lets the recipient choose who they wish to lend the value of their voucher, based on country, gender, or type of business. All the entrepreneurs' profiles, and lots more information about how the scheme works, can be viewed on the lendwithcare.org site.

Once the value of the voucher has been invested, the entrepreneurs' repayments can be tracked, and when the loan period has ended, investors can choose whether they want to reinvest that money, donate it, or recoup their loan.

It's really easy to buy a gift voucher too. Just go to lendwithcare.org, and follow these instructions.

First, decide whether you'd like to send your voucher by email or receive it as a file to print and send yourself. Then customise your voucher, by selecting an amount and choosing a voucher design – there are four to choose from, each featuring a different entrepreneur. Next, enter your recipient's details and include your personal message. Add other vouchers at this point if you'd like to do so. Then add the gift voucher(s) to your basket and check out using existing credit in your lendwithcare.org account, via paypal or by using a debit/credit card.

A lendwithcare.org gift voucher is the easy way to send a friend or relative a present they will never forget and involve them in a global community that is improving the lives of the poorest. It is, quite literally, the gift that keeps on giving.

So give lendwithcare.org gift vouchers this Christmas: there's no waste, no regrets, and everyone benefits.

On this site

Lendwithcare, an initiative launched by CARE International UK and supported by The Co-operative, now allows supporters to make loans to groups of small-scale entrepreneurs so they can feed their families, send their children to school and pay for healthcare

CARE International is helping thousands of small-scale entrepreneurs work their way out of poverty with dignity, but more still need your help. Read about their stories and find out how you can help their businesses to prosper

Video
(5min 32sec):
Lendwithcare ambassador Nick Wood travels to Togo to meet the entrepreneur that he is helping with his loans, as well as other local business owners who have benefited from microfinancing schemes

External links

Credits

Commissioning editor: Sarah AkhurstSupervising editor for GNM: Graham Hayday Produced for Guardian Brand Partnerships by Seven Plus to a brief agreed with CARE International UKPaid for by CARE International UK. All editorial controlled by the Guardian, except those articles labelled as advertisement featureContact: Daniel Spears 020-3353 4689

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